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"I am delighted that the Foreign Minister of Japan, Mr. Fumio Kishida, will visit Ireland in early January, in what will be the first visit by a sitting Japanese Foreign Minister in more than 25 years. It will be a great honour for Ireland, and for me personally, to welcome Minister Kishida to our shores.

2017 marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Ireland and Japan, and this visit by the Japanese Foreign Minister is a fitting way to launch the celebrations for the anniversary year.

Ireland and Japan have enjoyed a close friendship over the past 60 years, based on shared values. Japan is a valued trading partner – Ireland’s largest export market in the Asia-Pacific region. In 2015 bilateral trade between Ireland and Japan totalled €9.8 billion. There are 79 Japanese companies in Ireland, and 50 Irish companies in Japan. I am looking forward to meeting with Minister Kishida to discuss ways to further strengthen and deepen our ties in the coming years."

ENDSPress Office22 December 2016

Notes for Editors:

First Visit by a Japanese Foreign Minister in more than 25 yearsMinister Kishida's visit will be the first visit by a sitting Japanese Foreign Minister since the visit of then Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Mr. Taro Nakayama, in 1991.

The Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Japan and IrelandOn 2 March 1957, the Ambassador of Japan to the U.K. sent a note to the Ambassador of Ireland to the U.K. proposing to establish diplomatic missions at minister level, and on 5 March 1957, the Ambassador of Ireland to the U.K. sent a reply to the Ambassador of Japan to the U.K. accepting the proposal.

Bilateral Trade and InvestmentBilateral trade between Ireland and Japan totalled €9.8 billion in 2015, and Japan is Ireland’s largest export market in the Asia-Pacific region. There are 79 Japanese companies in Ireland, and 50 Irish companies in Japan.